Table top



Feb. 27, 1940.

l E. A. MUNGER TABLE TOP Filed Oct. l, 1957 INVENTOR. 2542/1/21. ML/25e,

lill

lllllll Patented Feb. 27,1940

y ATABLE'TOP Earl `A. Munger, Muncie, 1nd., v.assigner to Durham Manufacturing Company, Muncie, Ind., a. corporation of Indiana Application October- 1, 1937,'7'Serial11No.166,762

s claims. (oi. eil-.106)

llJlsJrrED STATES ofi-Fics The present application relates to a table top, and more particularly to a card table top of the type in which a frame is provided to support a top element. The primary object lof the invention is to provide a lessl expensive but more dur- 4 able table top, particularly applicable for use as table constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental enlarged transverse section through a.. portion of a table top constructed in accordance with the present invention, said view being taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan of a detail of construction; and

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 2 but showing the illustrated parts before attachment ofthe cover to the frame element.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that the frame vof the table top is made up of a plurality of preformed. sheet metal strips, indicated generally by the reference numeral I0, I0'. Each of said strips is formed to provide a substantially horizontal portion II with an inwardly directed ilange I2 depressed below the plane of the portion lI. Each of said strips is'further formed to provide a depending, outwardly facing apron I3 which is merged with the portion II by a curved portion I4. At its lower edge, apron portion I3 is bent upwardly, as as I5, to provide a flange orwall I6 which cooperates with the outer surface of the apron I3 to form a trough il. Preferably, but not necessarily, the extremity ofv the strip is turned inwardly and downwardly, as at I8so that no raw metal edge is exposed.

The ange I2 of each of the strips I0 is formed, adjacent one end, with a depressed portion I9, the length of whichis equal to the width of the flange portion I2 of the adjacent strip I0', said depression being adapted to 'receive the end of the next adjacent liange, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, when the four strips are assembled to form the frame.

The top element, indicated 'generally at 12D, comprises two pieces of chip board, or `other relatively stiilmateriab 2 I," 22, the sheet 22 being glued to the upper surface of the sheet 2 I. Preferably, but'notl necessarily, ay sheet'23 of kraft" paper, 'or-'other material `adapted to receive Aand retain-a'suitable coat ofcoloring matter, -is-glued tol the' lower surface of the sheetf2I. It 4will be -seen that the sheets2 I and 23' are so dimensione'd asto'ft snugly upon the shelf formedbythe cooperation 0i the flange portion lI2 of the metallic. strips, when said strips are assembled. To the upper surface of the sheet 22 is glued `a sheet 24 oi kraft paper or other` material adapted to receive and retain a printed decoration; and it will be seen that the sheets 22 and 24 are dimensioned to overlie the portions Il, Irl, and I3 of the strips I8, and to project into, and be received in, the troughs Il. Preferably, the sheet 22 is suitably scored, as at 25, tof'acilitate the ystep of bending said sheet 22 tonconform smoothly to the curvature of the portion I4 of the strip I0. l

When the top is applied to the frame, it is stretched tightly enough to exert flexing stresses upon the strips` I0, thereby resiliently displacing the free edges of the aprons from their positions of equilibrium illustrated in Fig. 4 to the positions illustrated in Fig. 2, or thereabouts; and the terminal portions 26 of the sheets22 and 24 are tucked into the trough I'I and secured in place by any suitable'means such, for instance, as rivets 2'I passing through the'portions I6, I8, and I3, and through the sheets 22 and 24.

As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, the shape of the strips It is such that the ends 23er the unilanged portions thereof are spaced and angularly related to each other when the four strips are assembled to form the frame. The spaces so formed are covered, after the assembly of the organization has otherwise been completed, by escutcheon elements 29. y

It will be obvious that it would be possible to` eliminate the sheet 22, using some tougher material in place of kraft paper for the sheet 24. I consider it preferable, however, to use the construction illustrated whioh guards against puncturing of the sheet 24 and provides, to some' extent, cushioning means between the metal strip ID and the thin sheet 24.

A decided advantage is attained, in a table top of the present type, through the combination of a flexible cover of vthe typeillustrated with a frame made of Aresilient sheet metal. As has been stated, when the top element 25J is applied to the frame, the perimetral portions thereof are stretched to such an extent as to apply flexing stresses to the strips I0 whereby said strips are resiliently flexed to displace the free edges of the aprons I3 from their positions of equilibrium. Thereby, the frame is caused to provide spring means for holding the cover smoothly stretched over the top of the table, the inherent resiliency of the frame elements i0 tending also to return the displaced free edges of said 'aprons I3 to their positions of equilibrium. Thereby, I avoid the rumpling of the table cover which is so common in. tables of this general type as a. result of atmospheric changes, whereby the table top is rendered more durable, in that its useful life is enlarged.

I claim as my invention:

1. A table top comprising a rectangular sheetmetal frame, each side portion of said frame being bent to form ahorizontal portion and a depending skirt merging with said horizontal portionv through a smooth curve, a cover member supported on said frame and formed to provide four iiexible aps, each of said iiaps being drawn over the curve and over the outer surface of one of said skirts, and means for securing the outer edge portion of each of said flaps to its associated skirt, the length of each ap being less than the perimeter of the curve with which 30 it is associated plus the depth of the skirt with which it is associated, whereby said skirts are held by said flaps under flexing tension, said skirts tending resiliently to tauten said cover` l member.

2. A table top comprising a. metaiiic frame` having a perimetral substantially horizontal porl tion and a plurality of perimetrallyan'anged depending aprons integral With said horizontal portion, said aprons being resiliently flexed from their positions of equilibrium whereby their free edges are displaced outwardly with respect to said positions of equilibrium, and a flexible cover overlying said top and having a corresponding number of perimetrally arranged aps, said aps only being attached respectively to the free edgesA of said aprons and restraining said apron edges against return to their positions` of equilibrium. 3. 'I'he combination with a table cover having Y a plurality of perimetrally arranged flaps ilexibly associated with said cover, of means for of said aprons to hold said flaps and said covery v under spring tension.

EARL A. MUNGER. 

